Surgery

[Holy Knight]

So on Monday I'm going to undergo reconstructive surgery (I suppose that's how you call it) to the upper jaw in order to realign it properly as it's about a half centimeter off from where it should be. It isn't apparent at all, but the difference is there once you notice it. My cheekbones will also be pushed forward a bit with an aesthetical removal of 3 millimeters off my chin, deemed too strong for the final look.

In any case, I was wondering what your experience(s) with surgery were and what I should expect. I know it can vary from individual to individual, so I'm only looking for a general view of what can or will happen. As it stands, I'm in for about two weeks off from my summer job and three with my jaw sealed together. Not fun, but the initial prognostic was eight weeks, so it could have been much worse.

As far as I can tell, it's free time to do what I want although it may go differently in reality. What's your take?

[Nano]

Good luck man, I've never had anything done myself so I can't tell you what it's like.

[Suki]

Hopefully you recover correctly, i've know a few people who got infected while recuperation, and sometimes it gets messed up.

[CrossboneGundam]

Realign the upper jaw with what? The upper jaw is, you know, an immobile part of the skull, as opposed to the lower jaw which can move. How does that work?

[Nano]

Realign the upper jaw with what? The upper jaw is, you know, an immobile part of the skull, as opposed to the lower jaw which can move. How does that work?

Break stuff.

[Holy Knight]

Realign the upper jaw with what? The upper jaw is, you know, an immobile part of the skull, as opposed to the lower jaw which can move. How does that work?

Basically, they're going to fracture it as, yes, it is immobile. They then cut along certain points and the jaw becomes loose enough to move around. At least, that's what they told me.

As for the realignment, surgeons and orthodontists refer to a "line of symmetry" that passes from the top of the head, then down to the nose and to the base of the chin. The whole should be one straight line and that isn't the case with my upper jaw. From the outside you could notice it's crooked, but from the inside you'll see that it's at about a 10 degree angle (it might not sound like much, but it's enough to make a difference) with the rest of my skull and does not fit properly over my lower jaw. My back teeth also do not touch together and the lower jaw has overbite. Hence, the reason for surgery.

Luckily, I won't need a full rearangement of the cheekbones which would require a much more difficult surgery involving the bones that pass just underneath the eyes.

It's neat stuff even though I'm the subject of it. I also wondered how they managed blood flow and loss. Is it rerouted? It can't be blocked, that's for sure. I wasn't able to ask, so I don't know.

[Caine]

Well, it depends on the surgery.
"Do what you want" is somewhat relative. If you want to read, sleep, watch tv, use the computer, and play video games, yes. If you want to play basketball or dive into a mosh pit, probably not happening.

If you can drive, that might help. I haven't had anything since I got my liscense, but not being able to bike was killing me the only times I was limited (once by surgery, once by injury)

I'm assuming they've told you about what you will and won't be able to do in terms of food, which should be your biggest limitation with a jaw surgery. I'd assume you need to avoid anything too physical or anything that risks injuring it, but its not as if they're cutting your chest open. That can lead to problems for months. After one of his heart surgeries, when he came home from the hospital, my dad had to sleep in a recliner, because he couldn't lie flat. You shouldn't have anything like that, though.

[CrossboneGundam]

If you're going to have these guys go and bust up your skull, yeah, the pain's probably going to make you wish you were something other than alive and conscious.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

... yikes. sounds intense. remember to ask fro pain meds. because, im not gonna BS ya son...

it is gonna hurt BALLS after the surgery.

dont eat anything prior ro surgery. do a fast. in fact, they'll let you starve anyway.

good luck... and take some pics. it'll be nice to show people what you went through.

[Leader Desslock]

I wish you good luck, sir. I'm sure it'll go just fine. Make sure to post some pics when that mug of yours heals!

[sasami-riyo]

ow. i think i just remembered why i won't be going into the medical field. that sounds like a world of pain, but i hope the surgery goes well!

[Samurai Drifter]

Hoo boy.

I underwent a lot of surgery and invasive procedures growing up. As long as you're under anasteshia (sp?) you'll be fine; unless it makes you sick like it did me and you puke on the bed when you wake up.

Basically, you go in, they give you a brief physical, you change into a hospital gown and get into a rolling bed, they roll you to the OR, put a mask on you, you go to sleep and wake up seemingly a few seconds later in recovery. Whatever they operated on (in this case your mouth) will be sore. That's what you should expect.

Once I had a dream while unconcious, but I doubt that's the norm.

[SDAnimeFan]

Good Luck HK!

[HSaabedra]

Best of luck HolyKnight. Hopefully the surgery won't be too painful.

[Hajime Saitou]

At first I thought you made a typo when you said upper jaw, but now that I have read the entire thread, I see that is not the case. :ph34r:

I can't answer your question about surgery, as I have never even heard of a procedure like this before. What I can do, is wish you good luck.

Good luck. ;) Hope you come back in one piece and that piece is in good condition.

[CrossboneGundam]

I underwent a lot of surgery and invasive procedures growing up. As long as you're under anasteshia (sp?) you'll be fine; unless it makes you sick like it did me and you puke on the bed when you wake up.

Basically, you go in, they give you a brief physical, you change into a hospital gown and get into a rolling bed, they roll you to the OR, put a mask on you, you go to sleep and wake up seemingly a few seconds later in recovery. Whatever they operated on (in this case your mouth) will be sore. That's what you should expect.

Once I had a dream while unconcious, but I doubt that's the norm.

It's anesthesia.

And "sore"? Either you had some pretty minor surgery or you have an absurdly high tolerance for pain.

[Nano]

I wish you good luck, sir. I'm sure it'll go just fine. Make sure to post some pics when that mug of yours heals!

I think he should post some pictures now and then some after it's all healed.

[The Million Dollar Prons]

I was unable to walk, piss, take a **** or get out of bed for like a month and a half

[Caine]

Pain level depends mostly on medication.

And yeah, I think I was more sore than anything else when I first woke up. After that, it depends on medication levels and the severity of the surgery.

[Tonyx35]

Good Luck HK I hope it goes as smooth as possible :)

[Holy Knight]

Thanks for the replies. I'll be sure to post up some before/after comparison photos for those interested, but none of post-surgery. They might be too gruesome for this board.

Sadly, no one will be allowed to crack a joke in my presence and all food will be purée'd. I will, however, be making a point of watching some of those Hannibal Lecter movies, for the sake of irony.

It is also unannimously agreed among the specialists that I have met that the end result should make me sexier than Brad Pitt. But I digress. :P